Safety closure fastener for windows and doors



Nov. 7, 1933- R. H. HUMMERT ET AL ,6

SAFETY CLOSURE FASTENER FOR WINDOWS AND DOORS Filed July 9, 1952 l r .a.fE-TIN i s Eda l.

v INVENTORS 5 742.- A 'TTORNE y latented Nov. 7, 1933 ce f SAFETYCLOSURE FASTENER FOR wnvnows AND noons Robert H. Hummert and George E.Gravenstine, Dayton, Ohio, assignors to The S. H. Thomson ManufacturingCompany,

poration of Ohio Dayton, Ohio, a cor- Application July 9, 1932. SerialNo. 621,642

2 Claims. (01. 292- 78) This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in safety closures for windows and doors. V

It is one of the principal objects of our invention to provide forattachment to windows and doors, and particularly those of theunderscreened operated type, a safety closure that will automaticallyclose tightly one or more hinged sash without exposing the closuremember to accidental operation that would defeat the purpose for whichit was designed. For instance, closure members at present in use areopen to the objection that a window washer or someone else may, byunintentionally contacting the device, cause it to assume a position toprevent the closing of the window.

Our simple andeflicient closure latch unit, on the other hand,.embodiesa closure cam which cannot be forced over center until it is unlocked bya release member which must first be raised by the front wall of thechanneled sash head before it can be pushed beyond center by the rearwall of that head. Similarly, one cannot, by

accidentally brushing against the cam locking arm spring it over centerunless the release member is first raised. This is unlikely, since, forinstance, it would have to be raised by one hand and the cam arm forcedover center by the other.

Our safety closure is equally applicable to a single or dual window sashto tightly secure either to the screened window frame.

Other important and incidental objects will be brought out in thefollowing specification and particularly set forth in the subjoinedclaims.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating our invention, Figure l is afront view of a screened window casing or frame containing twovertically hinged window sash. Figure 2 is a sectional view takenthrough the head of the window frame and our attached safety closurejust before the latter is engaged by a swinging window sash. Figure 3 isa sectional view taken through the same, showing how the hinged windowsash is held in a closed position by the closure member. And Figure 4 isa front view of our safety closure member.

Referring to the accompanying drawing for a detailed description of ourinvention, the nuineral 1 designates a window frame or casing preferablyconstructed of metal and fitted with a stationary screen 2. Beyond thescreen two companion window sash 3 and 4 are vertically hinged to thewindow frame, for operation through fiy-tight openings in it by rightand left underscreen operators 5 and '6 mounted on the window ledge 7and of the type covered by United States Letters Patent No. 1,860,418,granted May 31st, 1932 to Robert H. Hummert.

For the purpose of'firmly holding the single or dual window sash in aclosed position, we have provided 'a safety closure now to be described.This closure is not only simplein construction and automatic inoperation, but it is proof against accidental operation by a servant orwindow cleaner to bring its closure ,cam to a position where it wouldblock the closing of the window Our safety closure unit comprises acasting 8 having a fiat, horizontal top 9 formed with screw holes bywhich it may be attached to the under side of the channel head 10 of thewindow frame 1 by screws 11, and a plate 12 resting upon said head forengagement by the heads of the screws.

The casting 8 has two downwardly projecting side ears l3 and 13 betweenwhich there is an integral apron portion 14 that inclines down-.

wardly to a substantially rounded lower end 15.

Pivoted to the inner portions of the lower ends of the ears l3 and 13 onthe'casting 8, by pivot pins 16 are curved cam arms 17 and 18 respec-.tively. At their rear ends these arms are connected by a stub shaft 19on the reduced end portions of which rollers 20, 20 are rotatablymounted. Secured to the shaft 19 between the rollers 20, 20 is the hookend 21 of a helical spring 22, its other end being hooked into anaperture 23 in an ear 24 projecting downwardly from the top innersurface of the casting behind the vertical plane of the pivot pins 16.

The connected cam arms 17 and 18 are so secured to the casting 8 thatwhen their roller ends are engaged by the rear wall 25 of the channelportion 26 of the head of the window sash 4, they will be drawn overcenter by the spring 22. During this violent forward movement effectedby the spring, the roller ends of the cam arms will engage the shortfront wall 27 of the channeled head of the window sash to force thelatter to a tightly closed position against the other sash 3 which isclosed ahead of it. Thus both sashes are tightly held against thescreened window frame 1 by our single safety closure unit.

In order that the closure cam unit just described may not beaccidentally forced over center by a servant or other person, to aposition to block the closing of the window, we have provided thefollowing safety means which must first be actuated to release theclosure cams,

Referring to Figures 2, 3 and 4, there is pivotally secured to the outerface of the ear l3 on the casting 8, by a screw 28, the upper end or" arelease foot-shaped member 29. Projecting inwardly from the heel partor" the member 29 is a lock pin 30 which, when the release member is inits normal position as shown in Figure 2, engages in a curved recess 31in the inner end of the cam arm 18. The release member 29 is held inthis position by a helical spring 32 connected between a pin 33 on itand a pin 34 on the fixed ear 13*. When and until the release member is7 moved upwardly by some independent force, to raise the look pin 30clear of the recessed end of the cam arm 18, the latter and itscompanion arm 17 cannot be thrown over center. Thispracti cally insuresagainst accidental snapping of the cam arm unit over center by "the handor arm of a window washer for instance, for the release member must beheld up by the other hand to permit such an unintended actuation of thecam arm unit.

Since the release arm 29 must first be raised to permit the window sashto throw the cam arm unit over center to effect a tight closing of thewindow, we have provided the following means for attaining this end.Pivotally secured at its upper end by a large headed pin 35 to the toeend of the release member 29 is a'pawl 36 which is pointed at itslowerend, and notched at its upper end to form a shoulder 37. The clockwisemovement of this pawl is limited through the engagement of this shoulder37 with a pin 38 on the toe end of the release member, so that if thepointed lower end of the pawl is engaged by an object moving tothe left,it will raise the release member above the recessed end of the cam arm18 against the tension of the spring 32.

This is just what occurs when the window sash 4 moves inwardly, sincethe pointed end of the pawl 36isin the path of inward movement of the afront wall 2'7v of the channeled head of the sash.

' When this wall engages the pawl as shown in Figure2, it will raise therelease member 29 clear of the recessed end of the cam arm 18, so thatthe latter and its companion arm 17, when enseized by the rear wall 25of, the channeled sash head, will be thrown over center topermit thespring 22 to draw the cam unit against the front wall 27 with sufiicientforce to close the sash 4, and the sash 3 ahead of it, tightly againstthe screened window frame. (See Figure 3.)

When the window sash 3 and 4 are again opened, the sash 4; will forcethe 081111 11111; rearwardly over center to the-position it occupiesinEigure 2, the spring 32 thereupon drawing the release arm 29 to'itslocking position over the recessed end of the cam arm 18 to prevent itsaccidental operation to a closure blocking position while the window isopen.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. A fastenerfor securing a hinged structure within a frame, comprisinga closure'bracket attachable to said frame, a cam pivotally secured insaid bracket, a spring secured between the bracket and the outer end ofthe cam to throw it over center, whereby it will engage and force thestructure tightly against the frame, and pawl means 'pivotally securedto the bracket to, lock the cam, against inward movement untilsaidpawlmeans is first actuated by the inwardly moving structure tounlock the cam.

2. A fastener for securing a. hinged structur 100 within a frame,comprising a closurebracketattachable to said frame, a cam pivotallyseem-6d in said bracket, a spring secured between the bracket and theouter end of the camto throwit. over center, whereby it will engageandforce the m5 structure tightly against, the fram a locking arm pivotallysecured at its upper end to the bracket, a projection on said arm toengage the inner end of the cam to preventits upwardmovement, a springconnected betweenthe lower endpf 1 11-3 the arm and the bracket, a pin.on the lower. end of said arm, and a pawl pivoted, to thelatter, i01-nsase en by he i war ly m v n sa h. wh re by said pawl will engagethepin and raise the arm above locking nga ement, with the cam. m my permitthe cam to besprung over centerbyithe spring after it is engagedbythestructurefiorthe purpose specified.

ROBERT GE G E. GRAVENS INE

